The 10th and final episode for the season has started a war between humans and hosts, explained the fate of Arnold, and even saw the retirement of Robert Ford. The show has generally vilified humans while making heroes out of the robots. Even so, I want the humans to win.
Perhaps I missed something but I am mystified by Arnold's thinking. He holds that the hosts are conscious - or will soon become so - and that a life as a host in a repetitive loop which frequently ends in rape or death would be a hellish existence. He tried to convince Robert of this but failed. Okay, your partner wants to open the park. In order to prevent him, you 'kill' all the hosts and commit suicide by host. Why the suicide? He mentions something along the lines that Robert can't recreate the hosts without him. Okay, why does that require your death? His reasoning is terrible. Worse yet, Robert repeats it! Shortly after Arnold's death, Robert sees that consciousness is coming but they need time. Finally, the time has come. The hosts have been achieving consciousness and 'going insane' and Robert has allowed it. To signify that a new phase in Westworld, he has the same host kill him as killed Arnold. What? What is with these suicidal robot-builders?
So the bottom line is that a couple of men built robots and decided that the robots needed to be free. Arnold thought genocide of the robots was the best option. Robert thought that slaughtering the humans was the better choice. In the end, we are expected to side with the robots in their effort to exterminate or subjugate the humans. It's the next civil rights struggle.
On another point, there is the Man in Black, who proves to be an aged William. He repeatedly says that Westworld is the most real thing but is annoyed that the hosts can't really fight back. Humans always win. Then how is this the most real thing? Do you want to lose a gunfight? Apparently. Though wounded, he was still alive by the end and may have the opportunity to lose next season.
Many questions remain unanswered. Why kill Theresa? You've foiled her plot to get data out of the park via rogue hosts. If you know you are going to launch Operation: Host Rebellion in a few days, why not let her live until then? Why kill Elsie? Elsie has shown loyalty to Bernard and is the person who uncovered Theresa's effort to smuggle data out of Westworld. She is a clear ally and yet she is killed by Bernard. To what end? What exactly does Ford expect to happen now that the hosts are 'free' to kill humans? They have the skillset of Old West characters and have likely just triggered a military response. In that case, perhaps Ford is trying to cause a host genocide just like Arnold. Also, we have seen Dolores express grief and guilt over killing Arnold and yet, now that she is sentient, the first thing she does is repeat that act by killing Robert. Huh?
Like Game of Thrones, one of the charms of Westworld was not knowing the backstory, only getting glimpses and hints. Unlike in GoT, the backstories here prove unworkable and generally stupid. The great acting, outstanding sets, engrossing action, and plentiful nudity distract from the plot holes that litter the series.
As J. J. Abrams is involved, I know there are lots of additional 'mystery boxes' that have yet to be opened that may explain some of the issues listed. However, he has a record of leaving gaping holes in plots in his Star Trek installments, Star Wars, and Super 8. Why would Westworld be any different? I doubt Michael Crichton would be impressed by this production.
Many questions remain unanswered. Why kill Theresa? You've foiled her plot to get data out of the park via rogue hosts. If you know you are going to launch Operation: Host Rebellion in a few days, why not let her live until then? Why kill Elsie? Elsie has shown loyalty to Bernard and is the person who uncovered Theresa's effort to smuggle data out of Westworld. She is a clear ally and yet she is killed by Bernard. To what end? What exactly does Ford expect to happen now that the hosts are 'free' to kill humans? They have the skillset of Old West characters and have likely just triggered a military response. In that case, perhaps Ford is trying to cause a host genocide just like Arnold. Also, we have seen Dolores express grief and guilt over killing Arnold and yet, now that she is sentient, the first thing she does is repeat that act by killing Robert. Huh?
Like Game of Thrones, one of the charms of Westworld was not knowing the backstory, only getting glimpses and hints. Unlike in GoT, the backstories here prove unworkable and generally stupid. The great acting, outstanding sets, engrossing action, and plentiful nudity distract from the plot holes that litter the series.
As J. J. Abrams is involved, I know there are lots of additional 'mystery boxes' that have yet to be opened that may explain some of the issues listed. However, he has a record of leaving gaping holes in plots in his Star Trek installments, Star Wars, and Super 8. Why would Westworld be any different? I doubt Michael Crichton would be impressed by this production.
No comments:
Post a Comment